In October, the IGDA Board of Directors adopted a number of important changes to the IGDA Bylaws. An updated copy of the bylaws can be found here (PDF - 219KB); the substantive changes focused on adjusting the number of elected and appointed members of the Board of Directors.

Being a member of the IGDA Board of Directors can be a difficult responsibility, and historically, the organization has struggled to find members who were qualified to hold a Board position as well as interested in, and able to meet, the substantial commitment(PDF - 88KB) needed to fulfill the duties of a Board member. Over the last five years, the IGDA adopted a vetting process, conducted by former members of the IGDA Board, to ensure that potential Board candidates were both aware of the challenges of serving on the Board and prepared for the commitment; however, the IGDA continued to struggle with the composition of its Board of Directors, particularly in providing greater representation to our international membership as well as meeting some of the critical skill needs the Board has. Without a Board that is representative of our membership, and that has the knowledge and ability to address the challenges that the organization faces, the IGDA cannot serve its global members in a way that is effective, impactful, and that helps our members face the challenges and opportunities they experience as game developers.

Accordingly, the IGDA Board has adopted changes to its bylaws that move from a Board composed of 3 appointed and 6 elected members to a Board that has 6 appointed and 3 elected members. Elections will still be held every year, for three year terms (with ⅓ of the board seats being up for election or appointment each year), and when members put themselves forward for consideration as an elected Board member, they will also be considered for an appointed Board position. Moving to a Board that has a majority of positions appointed, but still has a significant number of elected positions, ensures that the Board members will be carefully selected to meet the current and future needs of the IGDA and its members, helps guarantee representation of different backgrounds and geographic areas on the Board, and also provides members with a voice on the Board of Directors through the elected representatives.

The new Board election and appointment process will work as follows:

The IGDA will announce a call for applications for the 3 open Board positions (1 elected, 2 appointed) at least 13 weeks before the new term begins. The application window will close at least 9 weeks before the new term begins.

Interested members will receive an Applicant packet, including the IGDA Board Member job description and Board Expectations (PDF - 88KB) documents.

Interested applicants will be asked to meet with at least two members of the nominating committee; interviews will occur at least 6-9 weeks before the new term begins. The Nominating Committee will be made up of IGDA members with prior Board service or other experts as needed.

The Nominating Committee will make recommendations to the IGDA Board at least 6 weeks before the new term begins. The Nominating Committee will provide up to four recommendations for appointed candidates, and up to three recommendations for candidates for election.

The IGDA will hold Board elections over a three-week period, at least 5 weeks before the new term begins.

The winner of the election will receive a Board seat, and the IGDA Board will appoint two additional members based on the recommendations of the Nominating Committee and the needs of the organization. The Bylaw changes have also defined quorum as being reached with any number of votes, so the election will always be valid.

New Board members will be announced before the start of their term, and will receive training on their new responsibilities over their first three months in office.

These changes have been made with the express purpose of improving the quality and representation of our Board so that we can better serve our members.

For the 2018 elections, the specific timeline will be:

13 December 2017: Nomination Period Begins

8 January 2018: Nomination Period Closes

15 January - 11 February: Nominating Committee interviews

11 February: Nominating Committee provides recommendations to Board

18 February - 11 March: Election Period

19 March: New Board Members Announced

1 April: New Term Begins

We invite interested IGDA members to apply for the three positions to be filled in 2018 here.

Attend Casual Connect USA 2018

Learn and Share at the IGDA Mentor CaféTM sponsored by Amazon AppStore

IGDA Mentor Cafés are designed to provide bursts of meaningful learning and each IGDA Mentor Café is as unique as its participants. The IGDA Mentor Café at Casual Connect will take place Thursday, 18 January. Learn more and apply for mentorship at http://bit.ly/IGDA-CCUS18-Mentee

Industry Mentorship Discussion with the IGDA Foundation

Join the IGDA Foundation on Wednesday, 17 January, as it brings together industry leaders for its first Mentorship Summit highlighting strengths and tackling weakness of today's mentor and sponsorship programs.

]]>Thu, 2 Nov 2017 03:48:26 GMTIGDA Foundation Scholarship Applications Now Open for GDC 2018http://www.igda.org/news/news.asp?id=371908
http://www.igda.org/news/news.asp?id=371908The IGDA Foundation is excited to announce that applications for its IGDA Scholars, Women in Games Ambassadors, and Next Gen Leaders programs at GDC 2018 are OPEN!

Each program includes an All-Access GDC pass, thanks to the generosity of UBM Tech Media, a travel stipend, and a mentor selected especially for the participant. The programs also offer specific experiences for their participants.

The IGDA Scholars program, in its 17th year, is open to promising students, pursuing a degree in a field related to game development, from around the world. In addition to the pass, travel stipend, and mentor, participants enjoy exclusive developer Q&A sessions, studio tours, and an introduction to game development as a career.

The Women in Games Ambassadors program supports students from around the world who identify as women, and who have graduated in the past six months or will be graduating in the next six months, in finding their first professional employment as a game developer. Designed to support all career goals, from employment at a AAA studio to working as an indie developer to starting a studio, Women in Games Ambassadors provides resume and portfolio reviews, exclusive receptions with leading companies, developer Q&A sessions, coaching on how to be an effective advocate for inclusivity in the industry, and ongoing support.

Next Gen Leaders helps to retain under-represented minority game developers. In addition to the travel stipend, GDC pass, and mentor, participants receive two days of personal and professional development workshops, ongoing support, and are invited to participate in the program at GDC 2019 as well.

Learn more about these outstanding programs and apply today! Applications for all programs close on 6 December 2017, and scholarship recipients will be announced in late January.

IGDA Foundation GDC 2017 Scholarship Recipients and Volunteers

]]>Mon, 23 Oct 2017 17:40:31 GMTIGDA Statement on #MeToo and Harassment in the Game Industryhttp://www.igda.org/news/news.asp?id=370754
http://www.igda.org/news/news.asp?id=370754This week, game developers from around the world used #MeToo on social media to acknowledge their experiences with sexual harassment and assault. The prevalence of sexual harassment and assault in our community is deeply disturbing, and demands action from every game developer to ensure the safety and support of all of our colleagues and community members. We all must do a better job of welcoming, and protecting, all game developers so that our community, craft, and industry can thrive.

Accordingly, the IGDA is announcing a zero-tolerance policy towards all forms of harassment and violence. This position is implied in the IGDA Code of Ethics, and we are stating explicitly that harassment and/or violence of any kind, on the part of any IGDA Board or staff member or volunteer leader, or at any IGDA-affiliated event, will not be tolerated.

All developers play a part in supporting an industry where we can create wonderful things; we cannot succeed, as individuals, artists, or companies, if our industry tolerates harassment. We encourage game developers around the world to join the IGDA in adopting a zero-tolerance policy towards harassment and violence, in committing to swift and fair response and resolution to any complaints, in protecting the safety of anyone who has been the victim of harassment, and in supporting a diverse and inclusive workplace and community.

Together, we can make meaningful change to our industry if we commit to taking immediate and significant steps to develop an industry, and world, that values the contributions of every individual, regardless of gender, race, ethnicity, sexual orientation, disability, religion, physical appearance, or any other characteristic.

MacLean brings a diverse breadth of experience to the role with more than two decades of leadership in the game industry to her credit, having previously served as the programming director of games at AOL, the vice president and general manager of games at Comcast Interactive Media, the CEO of 38 Studios, and the President of StoryArc Media.

MacLean will closely collaborate with the IGDA’s board of directors to support creators worldwide in their pursuit of a sustainable, fulfilling career in game development.

MacLean has already spotlighted one major issue facing game developers that she plans on making a focus.

“With hundreds of higher education institutions around the world offering game development courses, online resources enabling enthusiasts to teach themselves, and an explosion of independent studios, it is now easier to become a game developer than at any point in the history of our craft,” MacLean says. “At the same time, with the massive amount of content released on PC, mobile devices, and even consoles, it has never been more difficult for game developers to succeed in their chosen pursuit. The IGDA must take a leadership position in empowering developers to succeed through connecting them to peers, resources, and opportunities in their local communities and around the world.”

MacLean has been a member of the IGDA since 2000 and served on its board of directors for three years. In addition to her work with the IGDA, MacLean has been the managing director of the IGDA Foundation for more than a year, working to support a more inclusive industry, with the ultimate goal of enabling every person in the world to find joy in games.

“Jen’s experiences in game development, managing the IGDA Foundation, and serving as a member of the IGDA Board of Directors make her uniquely suited to lead the association into a new era,” says David Stelzer, the Chair of the IGDA Board of Directors and manager of Business Development and Engine Licensing at Epic Games for the Americas and Australia. “Her understanding of our industry and commitment to our craft will be invaluable for expanding the value of the IGDA for individual game developers, studio affiliates, and partners.”

The IGDA’s board of directors will continue its search for a permanent replacement, to be named sometime in Q2 2018.

Assets

About the International Game Developers Association (IGDA)

In its 23rd year, the International Game Developers Association is the largest non-profit membership organization serving individuals who create games. The association exists to advance the careers and enhance the lives of game developers by connecting members with their peers, promoting professional development, and advocating on issues that affect the developer community.

Summit Theme

The IGDA Game User SIG's theme this year is "Building"! Join the community in exploring the foundations of Games User Research as well as new ways of looking at GUR in a variety of settings. We want to hear from everyone in the field, whether you’re working on console, PC, mobile games, in academia, or are just trying to get started and want to know more.

Come tell us about your tried and true methods, unique approaches, new ideas, theories, and lessons learned – all in support of real-world GUR applications at the IGDA #gamesUR Summit 2018.

Have something to share?

Get involved in building Games User Research in whatever way fits you best! Submit a proposal to make a presentation. Participate in a panel or a roundtable. Deliver a Back to Basics session focused on the foundations of working in and around Games User Research. A non-exhaustive list of illustrative session topics is provided below, as a guide to potential authors.

In Seattle, US, Casual Connect is partnering with IGDA to bring the popular IGDA Mentor Café to Casual Connect USA on 2 August! In the IGDA Mentor Café at Casual Connect, games industry leaders will share their wealth of knowledge, expertise, and advice in short mentoring sessions.

Be a Mentor

We are looking for industry leaders interested in giving back and sharing advice to eager minds in 20 min mentoring sessions. Contact Jillian Mood, IGDA Partner and Member Relations Manager, for more information: jillian-AT-IGDA-DOT-org

Apply to be Mentored

Want to get advice and ask questions to industry leaders? Apply for mentoring in the IGDA Mentor Café at Casual Connect USA 2017: http://bit.ly/IGDA-CCS17-Mentee

Interested in Sponsoring?

Only a handful of sponsorship opportunities remain! Contact sponsor-AT-IGDA-DOT-org to learn how your organization can support the IGDA Mentor Café program.

MOUNT ROYAL, NJ – June 30, 2017 – The International Game Developers Association’s (IGDA) executive director, Kate Edwards, is stepping down after almost five years of tireless work to expand the IGDA’s support for game developers worldwide. Trent Oster, chair of the board of directors and CEO of Beamdog, will serve as the interim executive director until a suitable replacement is found.

“Kate has been an important industry leader for the IGDA in this role, doing heroic work as an advocate for developers of all backgrounds. Her accomplishments have carried the IGDA through tough times and helped countless developers on their journeys,” says Oster. “We look forward to seeing what Kate accomplishes in what is certain to continue to be a bright career.”

During Edwards’ five years as executive director, the IGDA expanded its international reach, establishing chapters in Bangladesh, Egypt, Estonia, Georgia, Tunisia and numerous other locations. Edwards signed more than 300 peer advisory letters of recommendation for game developers trying to get work visas in the U.S.

Under the guidance of the IGDA’s board of directors, Edwards took firm stances on social issues, being among the first to speak out against the misogyny and hate perpetuated by GamerGate and against the detrimental practice of “crunch” time, standing up to the NRA which tried to blame tragedies such as Newtown Connecticut on videogames, and advocating on behalf of the international game developer community when President Trump’s administration recommended the travel ban.

“It’s been a great honor to help game developers from all walks of life, all over the world, succeed in our industry,” says Edwards. “I want to thank the IGDA board, staff and all its members whose advocacy has made a difference for our community, and I look forward to following the association’s continued success.”

About the International Game Developers Association (IGDA)

In its 23rd year, the International Game Developers Association is the largest non-profit membership organization serving individuals who create games. The association exists to advance the careers and enhance the lives of game developers by connecting members with their peers, promoting professional development, and advocating on issues that affect the developer community.

Media Contacts

]]>Fri, 30 Jun 2017 21:09:23 GMTUnity + IGDA Partnership = New Benefits!http://www.igda.org/news/news.asp?id=347152
http://www.igda.org/news/news.asp?id=347152We are excited to announce that the IGDA has partnered with Unity to invest in game developers' futures. We are always striving to provide valuable opportunities for our members and to improve the industry. Thanks to Unity, we are helping current and future industry professionals gain a valuable edge in advancing their careers. Unity Technologies is the creator of a flexible and high-performance end-to-end development platform used to create rich interactive 2D, 3D, VR and AR experiences. Learn more about Unity here.

Current IGDA Members: Existing IGDA members are qualified to take advantage of this discount, but only during a specified time during program launch.

Every two months IGDA will send out a survey and select one member to receive an exciting prize

Offer valid starting 1 June 2017. Eligible IGDA members will be emailed information on how to receive their discount.

As the IGDA continues to grow and become an essential resource for developers worldwide, we want to thank our partners for their amazing support, and our members for helping inspire the next generation of game developers!

Keep an eye out for the latest Unity news, tutorials, and events through our channels.

Thank you for your continued support, and please welcome Unity as a valued IGDA partner!

* If an individual or studio has an annual gross revenue or has raised funds in excess of $200k per year, they are not permitted to use Unity Plus, as defined in Unity’s EULA Agreement.

Thank you to all of these candidates, to everyone who expressed an interest in running, and to those who voted, for contributing to the future of the organization! We'd also like to thank those directors leaving the board for their years of service: Justin Berenbaum and Anne Toole. The new board members will officially begin their terms on 1 April 2017.

Yours in service,
IGDA Board of Directors]]>Tue, 28 Feb 2017 02:13:16 GMTIGDA partners with #ResistJamhttp://www.igda.org/news/news.asp?id=331265
http://www.igda.org/news/news.asp?id=331265The IGDA is showing its support as a media partner for the #ResistJam event, intended as an opportunity for game developers to wield their powerful medium and express their sentiments around government policies that potentially exclude individuals from participating in our art form.

The objective is to empower jammers to make amazing and powerful games by focusing on diversity and inclusion. #ResistJam runs 3-11 March, and differs from most game jams in that mentorship and workshops from experienced members of the game industry are provided to ensure that as many people as possible can participate, no matter their skill level.

If you believe you are a voting eligible member for the 2017 election and did not receive voting information via email (Subject: Voting Information for the 2017 IGDA Board of Directors Election), please contact ops -at- igda -dot- org for assistance.

Given that the Affordable Care Act in the United States faces potential dismantling, and also given that the ACA has been instrumental in enabling many people to purse their creative passion as independent game developers, the International Game Developers Association (IGDA) calls upon all U.S.-based IGDA members and professionals in the game development community to contact their congressional representatives and voice your concerns about the availability of viable healthcare options. We believe that universally available healthcare is not only critical for the well-being of individual game developers, but also for the overall creative health of our industry. The IGDA will continue to closely monitor how this issue evolves.

Learn about sponsorship opportunities and see what the IGDA is up to at GDC 2016 by visiting www.igda.org/gdc2017.

]]>Tue, 3 Jan 2017 18:29:57 GMTCall For Nominations - IGDA 2017 Board Electionhttp://www.igda.org/news/news.asp?id=319380
http://www.igda.org/news/news.asp?id=319380The call for nominations for the IGDA Board of Directors has begun. Anyone interested in running for the Board of Directors should download the IGDA Election Policies and Procedures Manual from the elections page here:
http://www.igda.org/elections2017.

Nomination certificates are due by 23:59 PST(UTC-8) on 21 December 2016. Voting begins 1 February 2017 with new directors taking office on 1 April 2017.

Note: the 10 member support requirement is no longer necessary for board nominations.

REMINDER: Any individual wishing to participate in these elections must be a voting eligible member by the close of nominations on 21 December 2016. Please note student members are not eligible to vote.

The IGDA is very proud of the Studio Affiliate Program that continues to thrive each year. The IGDA Studio Affiliate Program is a key method by which game development studios can support the mission of the IGDA and help us continue making a positive impact worldwide. By joining the Studio Affiliate Program, a studio sponsors the IGDA while all or some of its employees gain an individual IGDA membership, which instantly connects them with the global community of game developers.

Other perks include studio promotion, job postings in our global career site, and ability to send information through the IGDA global network in a variety of ways. Recent studio affiliate renewals and newcomers include Ludia, Wargaming (multiple locations) Valve, Epic Games, Bungie, Square Enix and Eidos Montreal, disruptor beam, and many more!

The IGDA Foundation is delighted to announce that the 2017 IGDA Scholars Program is kicking off with applications for the Game Developers Conference (GDC) in 2017. The program is open to all students and recent graduates in fields related to game development. Applications should be submitted by 6 December 2016, please see http://scholars.igdafoundation.org/ for further information and to apply.

GDC will take place 27 February to 3 March 2017 at the Moscone Center in San Francisco, USA. The world's largest and longest-running professionals-only game industry event features over 400 lectures, panels, tutorials and round-table discussions on a comprehensive selection of game development topics taught by leading industry experts. Awarded to the best and brightest students in game development disciplines, the IGDA Scholars Program gives recipients an unforgettable experience including an all-access pass, industry mentorship, travel stipend, and local studio tours.

IGDA Scholars in the past few years have had incredible opportunities above and beyond the awarded event passes, including private Q&As with industry luminaries such as Ed Fries, Don Daglow, Reiko Ninomiya, Tim O'Leary, and more. They've also toured game studios such as Zynga and Double Fine. Students have made connections with their mentors and fellow Scholars that last well after the conferences.

You can learn more about the program, its history and find out how to apply at http://scholars.igdafoundation.org/. Please help us spread the word about this excellent opportunity for students from around the world by following and retweeting us on Twitter @IGDA_Scholars. As always you can find more information about this and other great charitable initiatives that support the games industry through the IGDA Foundation at http://igdafoundation.org.

According to a new analysis of the past two years of data from the Developer Satisfaction Survey (DSS) by the International Game Developers Association (IGDA), only three percent of women in the game industry reported earning more than $150,000 per year in contrast with 10 percent of men.

31 percent of respondents also reported some sort of disability, predominantly in the area of mental health, whereas only 19 percent of all US citizens and 14 percent of Canadians report having disability.

Other crucial points of this most recent analysis of the DSS include:

Diversity in Type of Work

Men reported working in technical roles at more than twice the rate that women did (28% to 11%, respectively)

Workers of color were particularly underrepresented in senior management roles, at only three percent, as compared to 23 percent of white respondents who reported similar roles

Men occupy the highest and lowest income brackets while women are more clustered around the middle income brackets. Respondents reporting earnings of $75,000 or more were 44% male and 35% female, whereas those earning between $40,000-$75,000 were 41% female and 29% male.

10% of men report earning $150,000 or more, while only three percent of women do. In contrast, 19% of women reported earning between $50,000-$75,000, whereas only 15% of men reported being in the same bracket.

26 percent of workers of color reported earning less than $15,000 per year, while only 17 percent of white workers reported earnings in this bracket.

81 percent of freelance workers of color reported earning less than $40,000 per year, while only 66 percent of white freelance workers did; 18 percent of white freelancers reported earning $75,000 per year, while only three percent of freelancers of color did.

Perception of Diversity

49 percent of responding workers of color in 2015 reported that there was equal treatment for all in 2015, as compared to 23 percent in 2014.

Male workers were more likely to report witnessing inequity towards others (39 percent) than experiencing it directly (26 percent), while women were more likely to experience it (67 percent) than witness it towards others (59 percent).

The International Game Developers Association (IGDA®) is very pleased to announce the launch of a new Career Center. Aligned with its mission to support the professional development and future of game developers worldwide, the IGDA Career Center is a another key resource by which IGDA members can search for a wide range of jobs and roles within the industry. Besides just containing job listings, the IGDA Career Center also contains a Job Search Resource Center to provide information and guidance on finding your ideal role, including advice on interviewing, building a resume, and so forth. For organizations with job openings, this new resource will be a great way to increase exposure to their opportunities.

IGDA members receive the special benefit of seeing jobs posted in the IGDA Career Center 3 days before non-members.

]]>Mon, 29 Aug 2016 18:37:29 GMTDevelopers: Express Your Opinions on Grey Market Practiceshttp://www.igda.org/news/news.asp?id=301051
http://www.igda.org/news/news.asp?id=301051The IGDA has partnered with Startselect (a digital game retailer in Europe) to map out the grey market of game codes. This research consists of several layers, including the legal aspects. However, since this is also an issue directly affecting developers, we need your help!

We're looking for statements from developers about the grey market, including testimonials and anecdotes (how has it or is it affecting you?), ideas for solutions to the current situation, and any data you'd like to share on grey market practices.

Please take this quick survey to anonymously provide us with your opinions and stories. With your feedback we can educate the game industry about the current grey market situation. Thank you in advance for your participation!

Thank you to all of these candidates, to everyone who expressed an interest in running, and to those who voted, for contributing to the future of the organization! We'd also like to thank those directors leaving the board for their years of service: Tom Buscaglia, Luke Dicken, and Sheri Graner Ray. The new board members will officially begin their terms on 1 April 2016.

Yours in service,
IGDA Board of Directors]]>Thu, 3 Mar 2016 17:51:38 GMTIGDA CM SIG: Monitoring Your Community During the Holidayshttp://www.igda.org/news/news.asp?id=266696
http://www.igda.org/news/news.asp?id=266696Community management is a role that demands 24/7 attention toward the players, especially during the holidays when the community is most likely playing your game. What do you do when everyone else is out of the office and you are alone to partrol the player gauntlet?

]]>Sat, 19 Dec 2015 01:11:45 GMTIGDA Interview Series: Judy Tyrerhttp://www.igda.org/news/news.asp?id=266689
http://www.igda.org/news/news.asp?id=266689Read our more recent interview with Judy Tryer! Judy talks about working in studios like Ubisoft's Red Storm, Sony Entertainment, then becoming CEO of a new studio. She also talks about how IGDA helped her get her first job in the industry.

Join the interview series!

If you would like to send a proposal on a subject you would like to hear about, be interviewed yourself, or nominate someone, we’d love to hear from you! Send thoughts to Jillian -AT- IGDA -DOT- org.

]]>Wed, 2 Dec 2015 22:04:34 GMTCall For Nominations - IGDA 2016 Board Electionhttp://www.igda.org/news/news.asp?id=259485
http://www.igda.org/news/news.asp?id=259485The call for nominations for the IGDA Board of
Directors has begun. Anyone interested in running for the Board of Directors
should download the IGDA Election Policies and Procedures Manual from the elections page here:
http://www.igda.org/elections2016.

Nomination
certificates are
due by 23:59 PST(UTC-8) on 2 December 2015. Voting
begins 18 January 2016 with new directors taking office on 1 April 2016.

Note: the 10 member support requirement is no longer necessary for board nominations.

REMINDER: Any individual wishing to participate in these
elections must be a voting eligible member by the close of nominations on 2 December 2015. Please note: student members are not eligible to vote.